Travelling to Wales from Somerset

RonnieandLiz
RonnieandLiz Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited May 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We are travelling from Yeovil, Somerset, to a caravan site near Caernarfon at the end of May.   I would be grateful if anyone has advice to offer on the best route to follow - I have found 3 so far, one through the centre of Wales, one going up to Chester
and using the North Wales Express and the other using the M5 and then off to Oswestry and Wrexham.   We will be taking a twin-axle caravan with us.  Thank you for any help. 

Comments

  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2016 #2

    For ease of towing a large rig, your best route is M5 to junction 10a on M6 and then M54 to Telford picking up A5 round Shrewsbury to Oswestry then Chirk. Take A483 north to Wrexham and Chester then A55 west to Bangor . If you want a more picturesque route
    then stay on A5 at Chirk through Snowdonia, slower but still do able even with a twin axle van.

  • scarletsfan
    scarletsfan Forum Participant Posts: 292
    edited May 2016 #3

    Towing through mid Wales can be very enjoyable, assuming you have a well matched outfit.  The scenery will be fantastic, but DO NOT underestimate how long the journey will take you, making any sort of quick progress with a van on the back will be near on
    impossible.

    Me? I will always go through mid Wales and allow for the journey time.  6 hours on Wales' A & B roads is a far more pleasant experiance that 3 or 4 on the motorways.

  • Mike Greenfield
    Mike Greenfield Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited May 2016 #4

    After spending some time on which way to go I came down the A470 to Brecon then the A40 and A4042 from Porthmadog last year.  Nice run but time consuming.  I was traveling to Newport and with a stop for breakfast it took nearly 5 hours. It would have only
    taken an hour or so less traveling to Telford and the M6/M5 and used more fuel so I thought stick to the A roads.  It's all about preference I think.

  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2016 #5

    With respect to both above posters, the OP was asking for advice travelling up from Yeovil, approximately 1-1.5 hrs to the Severn bridge. It would be easier to continue up the M5. The choice of route can then be made at Shrewsbury. Whilst travelling up through
    Mid- Wales is indeed picturesque it is not easy particularly with a twin axle van, just consider the A470  between Dinas Mawddwy and Dolgellau.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 2016 #6
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  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2016 #7

    BB as you came up the coast via the A487 to Dolgellau you would have missed the near 1 in 6 climb up and over between Dinas Mawddwy and Dolgellau, you returning home this way will do this in reverse, slightly easier, but not much. Hope this helps.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 2016 #8
    This content has been removed.
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #9

    I'm planning to "do" Wales this summer but haven't sorted out routes or destinations yet. I'll obviously have to be fairly meticulous if 1 in 6's are lurking.

  • RonnieandLiz
    RonnieandLiz Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited May 2016 #10

    Thank you for all the advice, it is very much appreciated.  Will let you know what we did after the holiday.

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